backing up outlook info

[Tom]

How do I backup everything in outlook? The contacts, calendar, email, everything thats ever ever and ever been in outlook for ever (and ever)?

 

[Ono]

Outlook Express backs up all emails (and subdirectories from Outlook) into .dbx files (plural - each .dbx represents a folder name in OE)

These can be found by looking in Outlook Express: -
goto Tools|Options
select the Maintenance tab
click on the Store Folder... button
This will show you where you will find your Outlook Express express .dbx files

Use Windows Explorer to find these .dbx files at the destination shown. Mine are held by default in:

C:\Documents and Settings\Ono\Local Settings\Application Data\Identities\{B3A8D5F8-11D1-4FBD-9FC3-B135D4658786}\Microsoft\Outlook Express


Nb. you may have to go to Windows Explorer:
Tools|Folder Options
View tab
Click on Show Hidden Files and Folders
in order to be able to see this folder. (Once found suggest you click it back to Do Not Show Hidden Files and Folders)






Once found copy them to another folder and before you put it on your CD - use Winzip to compress them. Then burn this compressed file to your CD.



To restore them on, say, another PC: -

Unzip the .dbx files onto any temporary folder on your new PC.


In Outlook Express on your new PC:-
File|Import|Messages...
Microsoft Outlook Express 6 / Next
Import mail from an OE6 store directory / Ok
Browse... / < choose directory where your .dbx files have been unzipped > / Ok / Next


Your address book can be exported as a csv file:-

File|Export|Address Book

 

[nath]

Piece of piddle - File> Import or Export> Export to a File> Personal Folder File (.pst). All the options are in there.


edit: Posted before I saw ono's but I believe it's still relevant, as I assumed you're using MS Office Outlook as opposed to Express.

 

[Shovel]

If you hunt about on the Microsoft Office Update website, there's also a tool/plugin entitled "PST Backup" or something similar, that can automate the process for you.

 

[lamda]

The dbx reader and dbx extract has prompted you a path of the Outlook Express files' storage. And now save the damaged dbx files in the safe folder, they can be useful.